Portable water purification system

ABSTRACT

A portable water purification system includes a generally rectangular boxlike chest containing a particulate matter prefilter, a reverse osmosis filter and an activated carbon postfilter unit disposed in a lower base part of the chest. The prefilter, reverse osmosis filter and postfilter units are connected in series by flexible conduits. The chest includes a removable tray section provided with receptacles for receiving a plurality of connector assemblies, a raw water diverter valve, and flexible conduits interconnecting the filter units with the raw water source, a waste water discharge line and connector assemblies for serially connecting a plurality of pure water storage containers comprising conventional plastic milk jug type containers. The storage container connector assemblies comprise removable cap members and respective inlet and outlet connector members which have a tapered force fit on upstanding spigots formed integral with the cap member whereby the connector members may be oriented to interconnect a plurality of containers serially by flexible conduits so that the containers may be filled with pure water without requiring transfer of the pure water discharge line from one bottle to another.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 663,860 filed Oct. 23, 1984,now U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,466.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to a portable water purification systemparticularly adapted for use on a domestic sink or countertop and to beconnected to a domestic water supply for providing purified drinkingwater utilizing a reverse osmosis filter unit and a plurality of seriesconnected purified water storage containers.

2. Background

In a great many geographical areas domestic water supplies are ofquestionable purity. The demands on some centralized water filtrationsystems and the utilization of certain ground and surface waterresources makes it virtually impossible from an economic viewpoint toprovide drinking water of a purity required or at least desired forhuman consumption. Accordingly, there has been a continuing need for awater filter system which may be readily adapted for use as a domesticappliance for connection to domestic water supplies which are oftenconsidered to be suitable for use for potable water but which in realityare dangerously toxic. In such situations and in regard to many otherwater supplies, the degree of purity of water from the central supplysystem or a private well is such that water for human internalconsumption requires additional purification. In this regard there hasbeen a longfelt need for a water purification system which is easilyutilized in conjunction with a household water distribution system,which may be used only when it is necessary to provide a supply ofdrinking water, and may otherwise be easily stored out of the way. Thepresent invention provides a unique portable water purification systemparticularly adapted for use as a domestic appliance which holds severaladvantages and superior features which will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art upon reading the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a portable water purification systemparticularly adapted for use in supplying purified drinking water forhuman internal consumption and which is particularly adapted for use asa kitchen appliance for connection to a kitchen sink faucet or the likefor supplying a predetermined quantity of drinking water in one or moreportable storage containers.

In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention there isprovided a portable water purification system characterized by a reverseosmosis filter unit, a solids filter unit interposed in a raw waterinlet conduit leading to the reverse osmosis filter unit, an adsorbenttype filter unit interposed in a pure water outlet conduit leading fromthe reverse osmosis filter unit and connector means for connecting asource of raw water to the filter system and for connecting thepurification system to pure water storage containers. The filter unitsare all conveniently supported in a portable chest which also includes asupport tray for storing flexible conduits leading to and from thefilter units, the raw water faucet connector and a plurality ofconnectors for serially connecting one or more storage containers to thepure water outlet conduit.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention the portablefilter unit includes a storage chest having means for receiving andsupporting a plurality of flexible hoses or conduits including a rawwater inlet conduit to the water filter system, a pure water outletconduit for connection to storage containers and a waste water outletconduit for discharging waste water to a drain conduit or the like. Theportable storage chest includes a hinged closure or cover and a supporttray mounted in the chest and forming a closure for means in the chestsupporting plural filter units. The support tray is particularly adaptedfor housing plural lengths of flexible conduits and fittings forconnecting the conduits to respective raw water sources, waste waterreceiving means, and pure water storage containers.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention thereis provided a portable water purification system particularly adaptedfor providing a quantity of purified drinking quality water to be storedin a plurality of portable containers such as one gallon milk containersor the like wherein a plurality of multipart connectors are providedwhich are particularly adapted for connection to the containers and forinterconnecting the containers seriatim to be filled with purified waterfrom the purification system.

Those skilled in the art will further appreciate the abovedescribedadvantages and superior aspects of the invention as well as additionalfeatures thereof upon reading the detailed description which follows inconjunction with the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the water handling working componentsof the water purification system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the support tray and storagechest;

FIG. 3. is a perspective view of the water purification system in use;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2with the chest and tray in their assembled relationship;

FIG. 5 is an exploded section view of one of the connector assembliesfor the pure water storage containers;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal central section view of the reverse osmosisfilter unit and pressure vessel; and

FIG. 7 is a section view taken generally along the line 7--7 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the description which follows like parts are marked throughout thespecification and drawing with the same reference numerals,respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale andcertain features of the invention may be shown exaggerated in scale orin somewhat schematic form in the interest of clarity.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated in somewhat schematic formworking components of a water purification system in accordance with thepresent invention, which system is generally designated by the numeral10. The water purification system 10 comprises a reverse osmosis typeprimary filter unit 12, a solids prefilter unit 14 and an adsorbent typesecondary filter unit 16. The water purification system 10 isparticularly adapted for receiving raw inlet water to the prefilter 14by way of a flexible conduit 18 which is connected between the prefilter14 and a source of raw water such as a kitchen faucet 20 by way of adiverter valve assembly 22. The diverter valve assembly 22 may be ofconventional construction and includes a conventional quick disconnectfitting 24 which is operable to be coupled to a faucet adapter member26. Raw water may be discharged through the diverter valve assembly 22at a faucet outlet nozzle 27 or diverted through conduit 18 to the waterpurification system 10.

The prefilter unit 14 is characterized by a generally cylindrical closedcontainer 28 in which is disposed a barrier type filter unit 30 forfiltering solid particles out of the water flowing through the prefilterunit 14. A prefilter unit discharge conduit 32 interconnects theprefilter unit with the reverse osmosis filter unit 12. The conduits 18and 32 are connected to the respective components indicated by suitableconnectors 19 and 21 of a conventional type for use with flexiblepressure tubing. Substantially pure water is discharged from the reverseosmosis filter unit 12 by way of a pure water conduit 34 which isconnected to the adsorbent type secondary filter unit 16. The secondaryfilter unit 16 includes a housing 36 in which is disposed a foraminoussupport member 38 packed with an adsorbent type filtration media 40,such as activated carbon or charcoal. Water entering the filter unit 16flows through the filter media 40 and generally radially outwardlythrough the foraminous support member 38 into an annular chamber 42 andis conducted from the housing 36 through a pure water discharge conduit44. The pure water discharge conduit 44 is connected to a plurality ofpure water storage containers 46 which are connected seriatim by aplurality of unique connector assemblies 48 to be described in furtherdetail herein. Waste water from the reverse osmosis filter unit 12 isconducted by way of a flexible conduit assembly 50 to a suitable wastewater discharge point, not shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, the filter system 10 also includes aunique support container or chest which, in conjunction with thearrangement of the raw water inlet conduit, pure water dischargeconduit, and waste water conduit provides for a compact unit which iseasily situated on a countertop or drainboard adjacent to a conventionalsink faucet such as the faucet 20. The filter system 10 includes asupport chest for the filter units 12, 14 and 16 comprising a generallyrectangular elongated box shaped base part 54 having opposedlongitudinal sidewalls 56 and 58, endwalls 60 and 62 and a bottom wall64, FIG. 4. The base part 54 is provided with generally arcuate recessesor openings 61 and 63 in the respective endwalls 60 and 62 whichintersect an upper peripheral rim 65. The base part 54 also includes ahinge bearing 66 cooperable with spaced apart hinge bearings 68 and 70on a cover member 72 whereby the cover member 72 may be hingedly securedto the base part 54 by hinge pins 71. The cover member 72 is providedwith a deflectable closure pawl 67 which is engageable with acooperating notch 69 in sidewall 56 of the base part 54 for securing thecover 72 in a closed position.

The base part 54 includes spaced apart integral support members 74, FIG.2, forming respective cradles for the filter units 14 and 16. Similarcradle type supports 77, one shown in FIG. 4, are provided forsupporting the filter unit 12 in the base part 54. The support members74 include upstanding column portions 75 which support a removable traymember 76 which is adapted to nest within the envelope formed by thesidewalls 56, 58 and endwalls 60 and 62. The tray member 76 includes aperipheral rim 78 and a stepped floor formed by floor portions 80 and82. The tray member 76 also includes an integral boss 84 of generallyrectangular configuration projecting upward from the floor portions 80and 82 and defining a receptacle 86 divided into open toppedcompartments 88, 90 and 92 for storage of respective cap portions of theconnector assemblies 48. The receptacle 86 also includes a plurality ofintegral upstanding posts 94 adapted to support additional portions ofthe connector assemblies 48 comprising conduit connector members 49,FIG. 1. The receptacle 86 also includes a cylindrical support collar 93for receiving and supporting the adaptor 26 when it is removed from thefaucet 20. The floor portion 82 also includes an integrally molded orformed recess 97 for receiving the diverter valve assembly 22 includingthe quick disconnect coupler section 24.

Accordingly, the boss 84 together with the peripheral rim 78 defines agenerally annular or perimeter type channel 98, FIG. 4, extendingentirely around the boss 84 and between the sidewall portions andendwall portions of the rim 78 whereby the flexible conduits 18, 44, and50 may be laid on the floor 80, 82 of the tray member 76 and in aloosely coiled fashion around the boss 84 as required, and as indicatedby the dashed lines in FIG. 2 showing the alternate position of theseconduits when the water purification system is not in use and is to bestored within the chest 54 itself.

The tray member 76 is also provided with two spaced apart dependingbosses 100, one shown in FIG. 4, cooperable with upstanding supportbosses 102, one shown in FIG. 4 and both shown in FIG. 2, which,together with the column portions 75, support the tray member 76 withinthe base part 54, as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Suitable threadedfasteners 104, one shown in FIG. 4, extend through cooperable bores inthe bosses 102 and are threaded into engagement with the bosses 100 tosecure the tray member 76 in the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.Moreover, with the tray member 76 in its assembled position shown inFIG. 4, the filter units 12, 14 and 16 are secured against dislodgementfrom the respective cradle supports. Accordingly, when the cover 72 isassembled to the base part 54 and hinged thereto the top wall 73 of thecover 72, in the closed position thereof, fits closely adjacent to theupper peripheral rim 85 of the boss 84 to prevent substantial movementor dislodgement of components disposed within the receptacle 86 or theperipheral channel 98. As shown in FIG. 2, the tray member 76 alsoincludes opposed generally arcuate recesses 79 which are adapted to bealigned with the recesses 61 and 63, respectively, when the tray 76 isassembled with the base part 54 and the cover 72 has similar alignedrecesses 81. In this way, the conduits 18, 50 and 44 may extend from thechest with the cover in the closed position as indicated by thealternate position of the cover in FIG. 3.

Thanks to the arrangement of the filter units 12, 14 and 16 and theprovision of the flexible conduits 18, 44 and 50 the water purificationsystem 10 may be easily set on a kitchen countertop 110, FIG. 3, forexample, and connected to a faucet 20 for a sink 112. Moreover, theprovision of the diverter valve 22 does not require dedication of thefaucet 20 to use with the water purification system 10, exclusively. Aparticular advantage of the present invention resides in the provisionof the connector assemblies 48 and interconnecting sections of flexibleconduits 113 and 114, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, whereby a plurality ofcontainers 46 may be connected seriatim for receiving purified waterwithout changing the position of the conduit 44 or contaminating thecontainers. As each container 46 is filled with pure water the nextcontainer in the series is filled until water overflows the lastcontainer in the series through the conduit section 114. The flexibleconduits 18, 32 and 50 are preferably of reinforced plastic and theconduits 34, 44, 113 and 114 may be provided of relatively soft plasticpressure tubing of the type made under the trademark TYGON. The conduitsare preferably color coded to indicate which conduits are raw waterinlet, waste water outlet and pure water conduits. The conduit sections113 and 114 may also be disposed in the channel 98 when the system isstored.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the connector assemblies 44 each comprise agenerally cylindrical cap member 118 having internal threads 120 whichare of standard form to provide for threaded engagement of the capmember with a conventional one gallon milk container or the like. Thecap member 118 includes a top wall 122 from which project two spacedapart spigot portions 124. The spigot portions 124 have a somewhatconical tapered outer wall surface 125 and an internal passage 126. Theconnector members 49 each include a body 128 having a conical boreforming an internal passage 130 dimensioned to conform to the taper ofthe surfaces 125 so that the connector body 128 may be slipped over thespigot portions 124 and forcibly engaged therewith. The connectormembers 49 also include a laterally projecting cylindrical fittingportion 132 having a plurality of circumferentially extending axiallyspaced apart barbs 134 to provide for forcible insertion within the boreof the tube sections 44, 113 or 114. The connector assemblies 48 areparticularly versatile in that cap members 118 may be threaded on orsnapped over the neck 47 of a container 46 and the connector members 49may be forcibly inserted on the spigot portions 124 and rotated to aconvenient position so that the containers 46 may be oriented relativeto each other in a desired manner and interconnected by the conduits113. When the connector assemblies 48 are not in use, the caps 118 maybe stored in the receptacle portions 88, 90, and 92 and the connectormembers 49 may be supported on the bosses 94 in the tray member 76. Thecap member 118 also includes a resilient gasket member 119 disposed inan undercut groove 121 for sealing engagement with the top edge of theneck 47.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the filter unit 12 is characterized byan elongated cylindrical housing 136 having removable opposed end capmembers 138 and 140. The end caps 138 and 140 are suitably secured insealed engagement with the housing 136 such as by cooperating threadedconnections 139 and 141, respectively. The end cap 140 includes aninterior axially projecting boss 142 defining a cylindrical bore 144adapted to support one end of an elongated cylindrical tube member 146having an interior passageway 148 formed therein. The tube member 146 isfitted with generally cylindrical annular seal members 150 such asconventional o-rings and the tube end including the o-rings may beinserted in the bore 144 whereby the o-rings 150 provide a seal toprevent water entering the interior chamber 152 by way of the conduit 32from flowing directly to the conduit 34.

The tube 146 is closed at its opposite end by a plug 154. The plug 154is preferably secured in the end of tube 146 by adhesive bonding aftermachining the tube bore to a predetermined size. The tube 146 is alsosecured to a reverse osmosis filter membrane structure, generallydesignated by the numeral 156, whereby raw tap water entering thechamber 152 is forced through the filter membrane structure 156 intospaced apart ports 158 in the tube 146 so that purified water permeatingthrough the membrane structure will flow through the passage 148 and outof the filter unit 12 through the conduit 34. The conduit 34 is suitablyconnected to the cap 140 by a conventional tube fitting 159. Raw inletwater entering chamber 152 from the conduit 32 is prevented frombypassing the filter membrane structure 156 by an annular ring type sealmember 160 disposed around the membrane structure and is sealinglyengaged with the inner bore wall 137 of the housing member 136. Waterwhich does not flow through the reverse osmosis filter membranestructure 156 exits the filter unit 12 through a fitting 159 threadedinto the cap 138 and which is connected to the waste water conduitassembly 50. The waste water conduit assembly 50 includes a flowrestricting tube 163 which is of relatively small diameter and of apredetermined length so as to present a flow resistance or back pressurewithin the chamber 152 to force water entering the chamber 152 to flowthrough the membrane structure 156 into the passage 148. It has beendetermined that the minimum flow passage diameter for the restrictortube 163 should be about 0.030 inches to prevent being clogged byparticulate matter. A nylon mesh filter 167 is preferably disposed inthe fitting 159, as shown in FIG. 6, or otherwise interposed in thewaste water flow path upstream of the restrictor tube 163 to preventsolids from clogging the restrictor tube orifice. The restrictor tube163 is arranged in the length of conduit assembly 50 to remain in thechest when the conduit assembly 50 is in use.

Referring briefly to FIG. 7, and by way of example, the membranestructure 156 may be characterized by at least a pair of permeablemembranes 164 which are suitably secured at their opposite ends 165 tothe exterior surface of the tube 146 on opposite sides of the ports 158.The membranes 164 are held in spaced relationship by suitable meshmembers 168 and 170. The mesh members 170 are in communication with thechamber 152 at opposite ends 171 and 173 of the membrane structure 156.However, the space occupied between the membranes 164 by the mesh 168 isclosed at the opposite ends 171 and 173 of the membrane structure 156whereby water entering the chamber 152 may flow along the spiral spacesoccupied by the mesh 170, permeate through the membranes 164 into thespaces occupied by the mesh 168 and flow along a spiral path until itenters the ports 158 and the passage 148. The membrane structure 156 isprimarily exemplary and may take other forms.

The operation of the water purification system 10 is believed to bereadily understandable from the foregoing description of the system.However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the provision ofa system comprising a particulate matter prefilter such as the filterunit 14, a reverse osmosis type filter unit 12 and an activated carbonor charcoal filter unit 16, connected in series, provides a particularlysuperior filter or purification system. In particular, the reverseosmosis/carbon filter combination removes bacteria and other organisms,and at least 85% and 90%, respectively, of dissolved nitrates and sodiumas well as the removal of heavy metals, halogen compounds and dissolvedsalts. The system is not an energy consumer. A unit capable of providingabout 19 gallons per day at 110 psi raw water pressure requires acountertop space for the storage chest of a approximately 6 inches by 15inches by 5 inches height. The chest base part 54, the tray 76 and thecover 72 may be conveniently molded of high impact resistant plastic asmay the containers for filter units 12, 14 and 16, and the parts of theconnector assemblies 48.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed herein in detail those skilled in the art will recognize thatvarious substitutions and modifications may be made to the specificstructural elements described without departing from the scope andspirit of the invention as recited in the appended claims.

What we claim is:
 1. A water storage container connector comprising:means enabling engagement with a portable water purification system forconnecting said system to a selected container and for interconnecting aplurality of containers seriatim, said connector including,a cap memberfor releasably securing said connector to a pure water storage containermeans for enabling conduit connector members to be selectively pushed onand pulled off said cap member and rotatably positioned relating to saidcap member for interconnecting a plurality of containers seriatim forreceiving pure water from a filter unit of said system, means formingrespective pure water inlet and outlet passages comprising respectivespigot portions of said cap member, said spigot portions having conicaltapered exterior surfaces, and conduit connector members for connectingsaid pure water connectors to pure water flexible conduit means andhaving conical tapered bores for receiving said spigot portions in forcefitted sealed engagement.
 2. A water storage container in accordancewith claim 1 in which said cap member is internally threaded forreleasably securing the cap to a pure water storage container on whichit is to be placed.
 3. A water storage container connector in accordancewith claim 1 in which the conical bores of said conduit connectormembers are contained at a first end of said connector members displacedfrom a second end thereof, and said second end is comprised of acylindrical fitting portion containing a plurality of circumferentiallyextending spaced apart barbs adapted for insertion into conduit withwhich the connector members are to be connected respectively.
 4. A waterstorage container in accordance with claim 3 in which said conduitconnector members are rotatably displaceable relative to the receivedspigot portion for effecting a predetermined orientation of theconnector members relative to the conduits with which the connectormembers are to be connected respectively.
 5. A water storage containerin accordance with claim 1 including an annular resilient gasketcontained on the underside of said cap member for effecting a sealedengagement between said cap member and the storage container on whichthe cap member is to be secured.
 6. A water storage container inaccordance with claim 5 in which said cap member includes an annulargroove defined on its underside and said gasket is contained within saidgroove.